Philippine Journal of Natural and Social Sciences .

https://www.paressu.org/pjnss
Volume 1, Issue No. 1, 2019 Online ISSN 2672-247X

Antioxidant Activity of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum)

Leaves Ethanolic Extract through DPPH Assay

Angela Kate F. dela Pena1* and Jun S. Camara2

1
College of Medical Technology, Lyceum Northwestern University, Dagupan City
2
San Jacinto National High School, San Jacinto, Pangasinan
*Corresponding Author: angeladelapena5@gmail.com

Abstract – International attention has been focused on natural antioxidants mainly from
plant sources to prevent and/or cure the disorders caused by free radicals but it is often highly
expensive and many people cannot afford it so with this, the researcher aimed to determine
the antioxidant activitity of ethanolic extract from the leaves of Saccharum spontaneum.
Single-factor ANOVA shows that there is a significant difference between the
different concentrations (40%, 70% and 95%) of ethanolic extract of talahib leaves and the
commercially available drug, (ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent. Scheffes’ Test reported
that all the concentrations’ treatments give significance. Scatter plot shows positive
correlation on the average absorbance of different concentrations of talahib leaves extract.
This means that as the amount of Talahib extract increases, the absorbance rate increases as
well. Further, the lowest concentration (40%) ethanolic extract of Talahib leaves gives the
highest absorbance rate of DPPH Assay which means, it has the highest antioxidant activity.
The research shows that the Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic
extract has antioxidant activity; The 40% concentration of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum)
leaves ethanolic extract gives the highest absorbance level of DPPH Assay; and Statistical
data revealed that the Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extracts are as
effective as the commercially available drug (ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent. The
researcher recommends that Talahib leaves should be formulated as a tablet.

Keywords: Talahib leaves, DPPH Assay, Absorbance Rate

INTRODUCTION

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3562945

 Philippine Journal of Natural and Social Sciences .
https://www.paressu.org/pjnss
Volume 1, Issue No. 1, 2019 Online ISSN 2672-247X

Antioxidants are compounds that detoxify ROS and prevent their damage through
multi mechanisms. Synthetic antioxidants have been in use as food additives for a long time,
but reports on their involvement in chronic diseases have restricted their use in foods.
Therefore, international attention has been focused on natural antioxidants mainly from plant
sources. During certain diseased state, as well as during aging, there is a need to boost the
antioxidant abilities, thereby potentiating the immune mechanism. The antioxidants preserve
and stimulate the function of immune cells against homeostatic disturbances. (Kokilavani,
2013)

Drug discovery is an on-going requirement in order to find safe, effective, and

affordable cures for an expanding spectrum of human ailments. Plants constitute a rich source
of a wide variety of therapeutic molecules and therefore hold a great promise for new
medicines. Natural antioxidants are required to prevent and/or cure the disorders caused by
free radicals. The free radicals are highly reactive chemical species produced in the body and
have the potential to damage cells, organelles, DNA, and other biomolecules, resulting in
diseases such as cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative ailments. The treatment
of such diseases has serious efficacy and safety issues. In addition, it is often highly
expensive and many people cannot afford it. This necessitates efforts to discover safe and
effective remedies, readily available to common people. (Ahmed et. al, 2015)

The plant selected in this study was Saccharum spontaneum leaves Linn also
commonly known as Talahib. It’s a tall grass you see can see on empty lots with white
flowers like giant feathers. Traditionally used for making hats, brooms, baskets, walls and
even furniture, it has been used in Ayurveda as an astringent, emollient, refrigerant, diuretic
and many others (Bartolome, 2013). However, no data are available in the literature on the
antioxidant activity of the leaves of Saccharum spontaneum. Thus, the researchers aimed to
determine the antioxidant activitity of ethanolic extract from the leaves of Saccharum
spontaneum.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Generally the objective of this study is to test the antioxidant activity of Talahib
(Saccharum sppontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract using DPPH method. The following are
the specific objectives: (1) Determine the level of absorbance of Talahib (Saccharum
spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract to the following concentrations of ethanol: 40%,70%,
and95%; (2) Test if there a significant difference between the three concentrations: 40%,
70%, and 95%; (3) Test if there a significant difference between the amount of Talahib leaves
and level of absorbance per concentration;(4) Test if there a significant difference between
the different concentrations of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract
and the commercially- available drug ( ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent.

Hypotheses
This study was guided by the following null hypothesis tested at 0.05 alpha level:
There is no significant difference between the Talahib leaves ethanolic extract and the
commercially available drug as antioxidant agent.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3562945

 Philippine Journal of Natural and Social Sciences .
https://www.paressu.org/pjnss
Volume 1, Issue No. 1, 2019 Online ISSN 2672-247X

The materials and equipment used in this study are the following: Ethanol (40%,
70% and 95%); DPPH (chemical used); Talahib leaves ; Ascorbic Acid (commercial drug);
Filter paper ; Test tube; Beaker; Erlenmeyer flask; Stirring rod; Distilled Water;
Syringe (Mcg); Weighing Scale; Mortar pestle; Digital weighing balance and
Spectrophotometer.

Methods:

Talahib leaves were washed first to remove the dirt and other particles and air dried. The dry
leaves were cut into small pieces. 5grams was soaked in 50mL of 40% 70% and 95% of
ethanol alcohol. It was macerated for 3days and filtered using filter paper. Two (2)g of
Ascorbic acid has been dissolved and diluted in 10ml of water in preparation of the positive
control. DPPH solution had been prepared by dissolving 1.2g of DPPH in 10ml of 95%
ethanol. Six (6) test tubes (T1-T6) is labelled respectively, such as, T1 containing positive
control, T2 containing 1250mcg talahib extract and 1250mcg DPPH solution, T3 containing
2500mcg talahib extract and 2500mcg DPPH solution, T4 containing 5000mcg talahib
extract and 5000mcg DPPH solution, T5 containing 7500mcg talahib extract and 7500mcg
DPPH solution, T6 containing 10000mcg talahib extract and 10000mcg DPPH solution.
DPPH had generated the color from purple to yellow upon addition on the extract because
the radical has been scavenged. The DPPH absorbance of Talahib extracts was determined
using the UV spectrophotometer with the wavelength of 540nm.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Level of Absorbance of Talahib Leaves in different concentrations

as revealed in spectrophotometry in DPPH Assay

Table 4.1 shows the average mean absorbance result of Spectrophotometric Analysis
Result of DPPH assay with different amount of 40%, 70% and 95% concentrations of Talahib
leaves ethanolic extract. Further, the table shows that talahib leaves with 40%, 70% and 95%
concentrations, shows antioxidant activity and was compared to the commercial drug,
ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the table shows that talahib leaves with 40% concentration,
shows the highest absorbance of DPPH Assay.

Table 1: Absorbance Rate of Talahib leaves ethanolic extract

Amount of Concentrations
Treatment 40% 70% 95%
T1 (Positive Control) 1.035 0.371 0.356
T2 (1250 Mcg) 0.119 0.02 0.015
T3 (2500 Mcg) 0.148 0.044 0.042
T4 (5000 Mcg) 0.051 0.032 0.033
T5 (7500 Mcg) 0.145 0.124 0.11
T6 (10000 Mcg) 0.326 0.279 0.238

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3562945

 Philippine Journal of Natural and Social Sciences .
https://www.paressu.org/pjnss
Volume 1, Issue No. 1, 2019 Online ISSN 2672-247X

Positive correlation on the average absorbance of different concentrations of talahib

leaves extract. This means that as the amount of Talahib extract increases, the absorbance
rate also increases. Further, the lowest concentration (40%) of Talahib leaves ethanolic
extract gives the highest absorbance rate of DPPH Assay.

Comparative difference of the talahib extract and the commercial drug

(ascorbic acid) as antioxidants

Single Factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) failed to reject the hypothesis (p-value
= 0.415604) that there is no significant between the different concentrations of Talahib
(Saccharum spontaneum) leaves ethanolic extract and the commercially- available drug (
ascorbic acid) as antioxidant agent . However, it is found out that there is a significant
relationship between the amount of talahib leaves ethanolic extract level of absorbance per
concentration.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The researchers conclude that the Talahib (Saccharum sppotaneum) leaves ethanolic
extract has antioxidant activity. The 40% concentration of Talahib (Saccharum sppotaneum)
leaves ethanolic extract gives the highest absorbance level of DPPH Assay. There is a
significant relationship between the amount of talahib leaves ethanolic extract level of
absorbance per concentration. The commercially-available drug (Ascorbic acid) is
comparable to the leaf extract of Talahib (Saccharum spontaneum).
They recommend that the leaves can be formulated as a tablet.

REFERENCES

[1] Patel et. al, (2016) " Comparative Study of Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol and aqueous
Extracts of Different Parts of Nyctanthes arbor- tristis Linn.".
[2] Fitriana et. al, (2016) "Antioxidant Activity of Moringa oleifera Extracts".
[3] Attanayake et. al, (2015) "Evaluation of antioxidant properties of 20 medicinal plant
extracts traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka".
[4] Purohit et. al, (2015) "DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Myristica fragrans
Houtt. Fruit".
[5] Alam Ripa et. al, (2009) “ In Vitro Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity
of Flower Extract of Saccharum Sppontaneum Linn. “.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for this wonderful blessing, academic breakthrough
and answered prayer and thank you for giving me wisdom, guidance, knowledge, strength and for
making this possible. To my Kuys Jun Solver Camara, thank you for all the things that you have done
and for being the Lord’s instrument for me to become I am what I am today. To my hardworking
parents, Jefer Salinas Dela Peña and Belita Finuliar Dela Peña, I will never give up on chasing my
dreams, thank you for your life, love and unending support. To my brother, Russel Finuliar Dela Peña,
thank you for your moral support and for cheering me up. To my spiritual brothers and sisters and my
friends, thank you for all the prayers and unending support.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3562945